Barbara Walters, the legendary US journalist, is recovering from chicken pox
after being hospitalised for a fall at the British ambassador's residence in
Washington.

The host of "The View", who has interviewed every single President and First Lady since Richard Nixon, is resting comfortably at home and "getting stronger", a statement from the network ABC said on Wednesday.

Walters had been hospitalised after falling and cutting her head at a pre-inaugural party at the ambassador's house in Washington on January 19. She was later diagnosed with chicken pox, which typically hits people when they are children.

The disease can be serious in older people because of the possibility of complications like pneumonia. It is rare among adults thanks to a vaccine introduced in 1995.

View co-host Whoopi Goldberg told viewers earlier in the week: "We want to give you an update on Barbara. You all know that she fell and cut her head 10 days ago, and then was running a temperature, but it turns out it is all the result of a delayed childhood. Barbara has the chicken pox. She'd never had it as a child. So now she's been told to rest, she's not allowed any visitors. and we're telling you, Barbara, no scratching."

In a message to Walters, Goldberg added: "We love you. We miss you. We just don't want to hug you."